Overages/ Shortages/ Damages

You are a reefer driver and have just been told that your trailer is finished being unloaded. You go to the Receiving office to collect your bills.The person behind the desk processes your bills through the computer, stamps them(depends on where you go) and hands them back to you."By the way you have some Overages (or shortages or damages)"

What is and Overage or shortage?

An overage or shortage is when a truckers final load count at a receiver does not match what was reported on the bill of lading. This can be because the shipper failed to count the load properly, forgot to adjust the bills after an alteration or because some product went missing during the transportation process (which is highly unlikely these days because the majority of loads are well sealed).

Please note: If the initial load set up with the shipper was classed as a driver count you may be found responsible.

What is a damage?

A driver should expect to see one of these at least once every two months. It can happen when the load inside the trailer was not stacked properly in the trailer, palleted wrong, stacked too high so the weight on top crushes the product on the bottom, when the truck breaks too hard or turns too tightly so the load shifts. It can be difficult to truly place the blame here, but the driver is usually found responsible.

The driver is responsible for all product written off by a claim due to damages. It should NOT be left with the receiver they have waived all right to own it (I went to a place once where they claimed product was damaged and then they wanted to keep it and distribute it among the employees).

The driver may choose to use the product themselves, sell it at a truck stop or do what many drivers choose to do and donate it. Many truck stops will have a program if a driver has damaged product to dispose of. For example a free meal for the product (which they will donate and get the tax write off). There are also various locations where these can be directly donated by the driver.

What do you do if you have and O/S/D?

Check the trailer. Any shortages might be due to a forklift driver or lumper failing to unload all the product.

The driver should not leave the yard until they have contacted the right people within their company. This might be a claims person, office director or director of O/S/D. Drivers should contact their dispatcher if unsure.

A claim report will be put together over the phone. The person in charge of the claim will try and find out what went wrong and try to figure out the cost of the claim.

Once the driver receives the claim number they can now leave the receiver.

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